David Kessler

EXCLUSIVE
  • Chief Empathy Officer, Empathy
  • Foremost Expert on Grief & Healing
  • #1 New York Times Bestselling Author, 'Finding Meaning' & 'The Needs of the Dying'
  • Founder, Grief.com

Bestselling author David Kessler is the world’s foremost expert on grief and loss. He is the author of six books, including the #1 New York Times bestseller Finding Meaning: The Sixth Stage of Grief, inspired by the sudden death of his twenty-one-year-old son. Kessler is the Chief Empathy Officer of Empathy, an HR product companies offer to employees who are facing loss and grief. He is also the founder of www.grief.com. Kessler facilitates talks, workshops, and retreats for those experiencing grief.

For most of his life, Kessler has taught physicians, nurses, counselors, police, and first responders about the end of life, trauma, and grief. Kessler’s volunteer work includes serving as an LAPD Specialist Reserve for traumatic events and working with the Red Cross’s disaster services team. Kessler’s perspectives on grief have been sought by hosts including Coca Cola Company, California State University, Family & Children's Service, and more.

 


David Kessler headshot
Past Hosts Include:
  • New Jersey Prevention Network
  • General Mills
Rave Reviews About David Kessler
The impact David had on our employees continues. Many teams have had continued conversations and have opened up a conversation about wellbeing and how we can support each other during these times.

Virt. News Interview - We Remember 500,000 A National Memorial Service | CNN [5:26] - Get Sharable Link
Talks & Conversations with David Kessler
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The Importance of Your Chief Empathy Officer

Grief expert DAVID KESSLER is a new kind of CEO: Chief Empathy Officer. While empathy may sound like a soft skill, it is a critical leadership asset in today’s turbulent climate. Kessler provides his perspective on the importance of empathy in leadership and business, sharing the tools to improve or ...

Grief expert DAVID KESSLER is a new kind of CEO: Chief Empathy Officer. While empathy may sound like a soft skill, it is a critical leadership asset in today’s turbulent climate. Kessler provides his perspective on the importance of empathy in leadership and business, sharing the tools to improve organizational well-being.

Author Talk: 'Finding Meaning'

Grief expert DAVID KESSLER wrote his #1 New York Times bestselling book, Finding Meaning: The Sixth Stage of Grief after the sudden death of his twenty-one-year-old son. In this journey beyond the classic five stages of grief, Kessler shares a roadmap to remembering those who have died with more lov ...

Grief expert DAVID KESSLER wrote his #1 New York Times bestselling book, Finding Meaning: The Sixth Stage of Grief after the sudden death of his twenty-one-year-old son. In this journey beyond the classic five stages of grief, Kessler shares a roadmap to remembering those who have died with more love than pain, showing us how to journey away from suffering, through loss, and towards meaning.

On Grief & Grieving

#1 New York Times bestselling author and grief expert DAVID KESSLER introduces the stages of grief with transformative pragmatism and compassion. In this discussion of the crucial role of grieving in dealing with loss, Kessler shares the insights, collective wisdom, and powerful tools that will help ...

#1 New York Times bestselling author and grief expert DAVID KESSLER introduces the stages of grief with transformative pragmatism and compassion. In this discussion of the crucial role of grieving in dealing with loss, Kessler shares the insights, collective wisdom, and powerful tools that will help those experiencing loss.

Compassion Fatigue

Grief expert DAVID KESSLER discuss the emotions and thoughts that occur under an overload of empathy. Drawn from Kessler’s experiences working with physicians, nurses, counselors, police, and first responders, this enlightening conversation shares with audience the courage and tools to develop great ...

Grief expert DAVID KESSLER discuss the emotions and thoughts that occur under an overload of empathy. Drawn from Kessler’s experiences working with physicians, nurses, counselors, police, and first responders, this enlightening conversation shares with audience the courage and tools to develop greater self-awareness and peace in the face of compassion fatigue.

Hope, Purpose, & Finding Meaning

Grief expert DAVID KESSLER shares his tools to harness the power of grief into a critical sixth stage: finding meaning. Based on hard-earned personal experiences, as well as knowledge and wisdom gained through decades of work with the grieving, Kessler walks audiences through the practical and spiri ...

Grief expert DAVID KESSLER shares his tools to harness the power of grief into a critical sixth stage: finding meaning. Based on hard-earned personal experiences, as well as knowledge and wisdom gained through decades of work with the grieving, Kessler walks audiences through the practical and spiritual lessons we need to learn so that we can live life to its fullest in every moment.

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Speaker News

David Kessler offers healing and support

One of the world’s foremost experts on healing and loss, DAVID KESSLER has been an in-demand voice, providing guidance and support through compelling and candid virtual programs. Sought-out to engage in a moderated Q+A for 1,500 General Mills employees, Kessler offered tools, tips, and perspectives on how to navigate this time and articulate what we're feeling. After asking questions, the audience was split into groups to discuss takeaways, called “Courageous Conversations.”  Feedback from the event was glowing: "Thanks for all of your help! We got so much positive feedback from our 1,500 employees from all over the globe who joined the call. David’s message was so timely and so relevant. Please tell David how wonderful it was to 'meet' him and I look forward to reading his newest book!"

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Biography

David Kessler is the world’s foremost expert on grief and loss. His experience with thousands of people on the edge of life and death has taught him the secrets to living a happy and fulfilled life, even after life’s tragedies. He is the author of six books, including the bestselling book, Finding Meaning: The Sixth Stage of Grief. His books and work have received praise by so many, including Saint (Mother) Teresa.

David’s personal experience as a child witnessing a mass shooting while his mother was dying in a hospital helped him begin his journey. For most of his life, David has taught physicians, nurses, counselors, police, and first responders about the end of life, trauma, and grief. He facilitates talks, workshops and retreats for those experiencing grief. However, despite his vast knowledge on grief, his life was turned upside down by the sudden death of his twenty-one-year-old son, which inspired his book, Finding MeaningDavid’s volunteer work includes being an LAPD Specialist Reserve for traumatic events as well as having served on the Red Cross’s disaster services team.

David is the Chief Empathy Officer of Empathy, an HR product companies offer to employees who are facing loss and grief. He is also the founder of www.grief.com which has over 5M visits yearly from 167 countries.